Gay has been excused to attend his grandmother's funeral in Baltimore and will rejoin the Grizzlies for their road game Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs.

It is true, according to the Commercial Appeal, that the Grizzlies’ new brass has spoken to every team in the league about their roster over the past month, producing almost daily rumors about possible deals, most of which involve Gay.

Up until Sunday, only Gay’s coach, Lionel Hollins, had expressed the hope that Gay would remain in Memphis.

However, the Commercial Appeal, citing an unidentified person with knowledge of the team’s trade conversation, reported that it’s now likely Gay will remain with the team for the rest of the season.

The primary reason? The Grizzlies won’t give away their top talent simply to shed payroll, according to the newspaper’s sources with knowledge of the team's trade discussions. And although new CEO Jason Levien has chosen not to respond publicly to the rampant speculation, he has, according to the Commercial Appeal, talked to Gay and his representative.

Levien’s message at the moment: If Gay is dealt before the league's trade deadline Feb. 21, then it would be because the Grizzlies have been made an offer they can’t refuse.

That kind of no-brainer scenario hasn’t happened yet, either for Gay or big man Zach Randolph, both of whom will be paid about $16.5 million this season and are due more than $17 million next season.

The financial reality, according to the Commercial Appeal, is that one will be traded in the next two years because new team ownership doesn't want to be a repeat luxury-tax payer, something that is more punitive in the league's new collective bargaining agreement.

Memphis will have a $4 million luxury tax bill for this season unless it sheds salary.

Still, none of the potential deals discussed in recent weeks would be strong enough to keep the Grizzlies on their current pace.

Memphis (24-11) is in fourth place in the Western Conference but only two games behind the San Antonio Spurs for the Southwest Division lead and 3½ games back of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the West's top spot.

The Clippers, who come to Memphis on Monday, are the third team ahead of the Grizzlies and though Gay won’t play, L.A.’s arrival puts a focus on the Memphis’ potential.

It was unclear before Monday’s shoot-around who would start in Gay's place against the Clippers. Reserve swingman Quincy Pondexter is still recovering from a knee injury.

Gay's grandmother, whom he credits for a major role in his upbringing, passed away about 12 days ago from an undisclosed illness. Gay has been reluctant to talk about her condition, only saying that she was in her 80s.